Newsletter

LaRoche Avenue construction project continues

Construction on the LaRoche Avenue culvert began in late January this year and continues to act as a traffic obstruction for residents of Isle of Hope, Dutch Island and Sandfly.

But there is good news. Officials say the work is ahead of schedule.

The culvert, which requires 30 steel pilings to be driven into the ground before standard construction could begin, required more effort and time from the county engineering office than usual.

Initial announcements that the construction project would take nine months — meaning detours and delays for all affected residents — did not play well.

In March, Commissioner Helen Stone, who represents the islands, received numerous complaints about how long the work was expected to take.

“The frustration is still the length of time,” said Stone. “To the average person — myself included — nine months seems like a very long time.”

Now, the complaints have died down as residents come to terms with the necessity of the construction.

“Traffic is still bad, but people are just trying to figure out the best times to travel,” said Stone. “The culvert was in very bad shape, and I would rather have this frustration than an accident or a death.”

Fortunately, the county’s project manager, Bill Nicholson, said the project is ahead of schedule and may even be completed by September, a month ahead of the original October deadline.

“We may even have it done before September,” said Nicholson. “We’re hoping to pick up more time.”

The pile-driving operations were completed in May, and construction is on track to begin excavation and building the box culvert in June.

Concerns now turn to the damage to the surrounding roads that are being used by the construction workers.

One area of concern is Norwood Avenue, where potholes created by the construction crews make residents worry that the time span of the project may be expanded to do repairs.

Nicholson said street damage won’t delay the project, and reports of potholes or other damage are being passed on to the county’s public works department.